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Hearney 12:25 Wed Sep 10
R.I.P WHUFC ?

I’ve been reading a lot recently about our proposed move to the Olympic Stadium.

As first, we we’re promised that this was a great move for the club, we can compete with the elite and more importantly, affordable football will be available again to the normal ‘punter’.

The closer we come to this move, the more worried I am for our famous football club. The powers that be seem to be targeting the ‘cooperate’ customer, rather than your everyday football fan. They are focused on having the largest cooperate services available, the best restaurants, the most famous sponsors and unfortunately the best seats in the house (if there are any) will be for the prawn sandwich brigade.

They are forgetting the likes of you and me who have followed the club up and down the country for years on end. We are an afterthought and year after year, our ‘proper’ fan base will dwindle away and will we become a nothing football club with a sterile atmosphere. No way will a season ticket be cheaper than what we currently pay!

They keep bleating on about how they want to show off our proud and famous history but without them knowing, this move in my opinion will kill West Ham United F.C as we know it.

I hope I’m wrong but as the days tick over, I really threat about this move but there is nothing we can do about it now.

I’m going to enjoy the next two years (if possible under OAF) because after them, I don’t think we will like what’s coming!

Jonah Lomas 7:12 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

I think it's a case of growing too big too quickly. I don't know what the growth has been like in Germany, or how the average German punter sees things, but I think it would be fair to say that the money which has flooded into the English Premier League over the last, what is it, 18 years(?) has caused a much more rapid maturation of the financial side than of the footballing side.

People hear all about the wages players are paid, the transfer fees they attract, the ticket prices they're forced to pay etc etc

I think people's expectations have kept up with that side of things instead of growing organically. I think it's another symptom of the "instant" generation....they want the success, and they want it now, and it's only now that it's become apparent that the rapid progress is leaving the local playing stocks and the fans at a low ebb, in favour of improved broadcast deals, endorsement deals, outrageous salaries etc.

The Germans have got it bang on with their model, while the Premier League has expanded itself out of control.

Monk~koknee 6:55 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

There is much to be admired about Germany including the way that they have developed their football both on and off the field. They have embraced change and maintained success without destroying its soul.

For some reason the average German player appears far more intelligent than his English counterpart (at least from when you see players interviewed). Why would this be?

Also I believe German and Spanish top tier clubs still have over 50% of home grown players while ours is down below a third. It is difficult to understand what is happening with the development of players in England. It is not all down to Fat Sam not playing them.

Sven Roeder 6:33 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Many people have talked about the inevitability of modern corporate football where the real fans are an afterthought & all is aimed appeasing Joe Corporate .... as other people have mentioned I'm always drawn to the example of German football.
Am always so envious when you see Borussia Dortmund and their ground and support looks like old style football and they still manage to be a success in the modern game even in the Champions League.
Given that the Germans are World Champions you can even see how this football from the grass roots encouraging young players & fan involvement is a success.
They seem to be determined to focus their clubs on the football while in England it's about turning it into another outdoor entertainment like a concert or theatre.

HenryMc 6:15 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

I don't see the club dying because of the OS, for me the issue is BFS and the board's inability to appoint a decent manager.

Jonah Lomas 5:46 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

I dunno if this has been posted here or not, but I thought it was a reasonable read:

http://www.ironviews.com/west-hams-olympic-stadium-plans-revealed/?

West Ham’s Olympic Stadium plans revealed

By ExWHUemployee on September 10, 2014 in Latest News

As we approach the much talked about move to the Olympic Stadium here are some of the things that we can expect.

The club aim to make the stadium feel as much like home as they can contractually do. The outside of the stadium will be claret and blue and will have the badge and ‘COYI’ among other West Ham related things displayed. The concourses and corridors internally will be claret and blue and there will be club legends visibly on show around the ground. While not many of the seats will be claret and blue the club is exploring options to make the crossed Irons visible or use sponsored claret and blue seat covers.

There are many plans to celebrate our history at the new stadium. In light of the focus on our founding there will be a restaurant/bar named after our founder Arnold Hills and another named the Royal East. The club aims to not only compete with other Premier League clubs for their facilities but with top London restaurants and bars in the city and Canary Wharf so that people visit the venue both on match days and non-match days. The club want to work with a number of high profile sponsors for many aspects of the stadium which will secure increased revenue in the club which would then be reinvested in the team.

The club are in talks with Westfield to establish a working relationship between the two parties which will be facilitated by a yet to be appointed operations manager. This person’s position will be to oversee the smooth running of the new stadium alongside Westfield, London Underground and the emergency services among other things. The Operations Manager will work with London Underground to increase the regularity of service at Stratford International (7 minutes walking time from the stadium) and Stratford underground station (14 minutes walking time) to ease supporter flow.

Supporters currently in the Alpari stand, who sit directly behind and around the dugouts, will not be able to get like for like seats due to these being corporate however there are other similar views offered in the East Stand. Any person who currently sits in the Alpari stand on the half way line would need to transfer over to the East Stand at the Olympic Park to get a like for like view. The club expect that the value of these like for like tickets will increase at the Olympic Stadium. There is a very small middle tier in the new West Stand and they will be corporate seats because corporate members expect the best seats in the house and these certainly are. The club makes as much revenue from corporate members (although a much smaller percentage of fans) as it does season ticket holders and so the club needs to facilitate the corporate members and those facilities are in the West Stand. The stands behind the goals will continue to be called the Bobby Moore and the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.

Those who pay the highest band for their season tickets will have the first choice of seats and this will continue over various deadlines until the cheapest bands have their choice. Current season ticket holders will be able to pick their new seats but they may not go down from the current value ticket that they currently have. The logic behind this is that if all the season ticket holders who currently have the highest band season tickets chose to go for lower priced season tickets they would affectively price out the people who have the lowest bands before they had a chance to renew.

When you purchase your new seat you will go to a viewing office in Stratford where you will be shown a top class three dimensional display of your seat and the 360 degrees view that you will have. The programme will be able to tell you exactly how far you are from the pitch and compare that measurement to your previous seat at the Boleyn Ground.

The club will offer season ticket holders the chance to move “friends and family” to sit next to them and will be able to allocate blocks of season tickets depending on demand.

One thing that particularly excites me is that season ticket holders will get priority tickets at other sporting or musical events that the stadium hosts. This means that we as fans will be able to purchase tickets in advance of the general public for athletics, rugby and music concerts that are currently being planned.

As has been reported in the media recently the roof is causing some issues and has cost more to rebuild than previously thought. The problem is that the retractable seats that cover the athletics track went beyond what the previous roof covered and so it needs to be extended to cover all seats.

There are many plans to offer packages that include experiences way beyond just attending a match and going home, all of which increase revenue for the club and maximise the money spent on the squad.

The away fans will be in the South Stand and will be spread across the two tiers rather than in one large group on a single tier. They will be as far away from the pitch in terms of distance as possible to minimize their impact.

Whilst I am very sad to be leaving behind the memories of the Boleyn Ground and the family tradition I have going back 65 years I for one are extremely excited by the prospect of the new stadium and where it will take us and think even the most sceptical of supporters will be won over.

Son of Anarchy 4:53 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Hearney...

Whats the west ham as we know it?

Win fuck all
Debt
Shit stadium
Fan base rooted in the past 'bobby moore, boys of 86' zzzzzzz

As a man city fan if theyd have the old days of maine rd back is moss side, getting tanked week in week out living in the shadow of united.

Hammerhermit 2:22 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

I spent my younger years watching Moore, Hurst,Brooking, Best Charlton etc They did ok financially but money was mainly generated through sponsorship, ticket sales plus some TV revenue. A players testimonial was mean't to help set him up for after his career ended.

IMHO we have to move to survive in this day and age.

It really should be RIP FOOTBALL as sad as it is.

Spandex Sidney 12:48 Thu Sep 11
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

This has nothing to do with the stadium move and everything to do with modern football.

On The Ball 11:15 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

How much can they possibly tell us about our seats that they haven't already?

Of course they're talking the corporate stuff up. It'll hopefully make the Club a fuckload of money.

People moan there's not enough information, then when there is some it's the wrong information.

Some people are excited by the move, some people are worried about how it will be, some are determined it'll be awful without knowing anything. One of those groups scweams and scweams loudest.

Saul Bollox 11:06 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

What are "cooperate" customers? Is it something to do with wheel making?

alphaharps 6:47 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

nope we undoubtedly have the biggest moaners around

Davenport 6:41 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Did every club who ever moved grounds moan like the benders on here?

AnotherDay_SameShit 5:38 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

What defjam said is a reference to modern day football across the board, NOT specifically about our move to the OS. So in short, he went off topic, but was nevertheless stil lapped up by a few misty eyed muppets still stuck in the 80's.

Hearney 5:17 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Again... Jam is correct!

Jasnik 4:23 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Why would west ham want anything but customers who cooperate .

Should they aim for people who cause issues . Who are violent ...

Son of Anarchy 4:22 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

This is perfect for the i remember when brigade...terraces, bobby moore gawd bless im.

Its time to move on

ludo21 3:57 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

The only / main benefactors from the Sky age have been the players. Clubs still struggle to make ends meet... Gold & Sullivan must be well out of pocket from investing in WH.

I'm sure that the English PL have been prime movers in paying top dollar to players and it's crazy... I don't see how it can be done but a wage cap and limit to transfers needs to be brought in for the good of the game and it's continued future.

BulphanIron 3:50 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Off The Shin 3:49 Wed Sep 10

"AFC West Ham within 5 years I reckon"

Bring it on!

Off The Shin 3:49 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Its not SKY thats killing the game, they've pumped shit loads of £££ into the game and I for one love having football on the box every night.

Its the Premier League and the other people in charge of English football that have chosen to fuck the supporters and fill the pockets of players, agents and themselves of course.

SKY money should allow clubs to charge fans fuck all in the modern era, if clubs were run as football clubs instead of as corporate businesses.

Its clubs like ours that choose to take the piss out of supporters with high prices and not having safe standing that have killed it .

With the OS, The Daves, Brady, Allardyce.... AFC West Ham within 5 years I reckon

Texas Iron 3:24 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

Wake up Josh...

Head in Sand...

Arse in the Air..

Porno Twins will Love You...

While they take your cash...and sell you Claret & Blue Binoculars...

Josh 3:20 Wed Sep 10
Re: R.I.P WHUFC ?

"See it better on the 60 inch LED's"



No you don't.

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